Circuit breaker



Sept.' l1, 1928. 1,683,589

c. AALBORG CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Dec. 2, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 INVENTOR WITNESSES: W Chrlstlam AalbovS Patented Sept. '11, 1928.

UNITED- STATES PATENT-OFFICE.

CHRISTIAN AALBORG, forrI'rTsBUReH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTI G- HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

CIRCUIT BREAKER.

Application filed December 2, 1922. Serial No." 604,492.

F clamping means'areacltuated in groups.

In circuit interrupters, asheretofore constructed, it has been customary to provide a large number of bolts passing through flanges on the tanks and holes in the covers. In order to removethe cover from a circuit interrupter of the type just mentioned, it'has heretofore been necessary to remove each of the bolts individually" before the 'cover and the tank could be separated. By my invention. it is onlynecessary to unscrew a relatively small number of suitable "connecting means, such as bolts, which control a plurality of readily detachable clampingmeans toelfect the desired separation.

Figure 1 is aside. view of a circuit inter-.

ruptersho'wing. an embodiment of my invention. r

r Fig. 2 is a planview thereof. a I

In the several figures of the drawing, the same reference numeralsrefer to like parts. In the preferred form of my invention, a circuit interrupter 1 comprises a cover 2 and a receptacle or tank 3. A plurality of electrical conductors 4 pass through the cover2 in a any. conventionalmanner. A mechanism 5 is provided for thel'nechanical operation of the circuit interrupter. These parts may be of any conventional type as they form no part of this invention. 1

The tank 3 is equipped with a flange 4 which extends beyond the normal circumference thereof and terminates in a plurality of upstanding projections or cars 6. Ifdesired, the flange 4" may terminate in a substantially rectilinear surface. Cover 2 is equipped with a plurality of bosses 7 and ears 8 which are in alinement with each other and with the ears 6 mounted on the tank-3. Pivot pinslf9 extend through the ears 8 and terminate in the'bosses7, asis shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2.

Eachof the pins 9 is adapted to support a lever 11. As is shown in Fig. 1, the levers 11 are adapted to face outwardly and eachcomprises an arm extending outwardly from the pivotal support '9 andis provided, atits end with means for securing an actuating mechanism, hereinafter described. Extendingat an angle to the main part of the lever I 11 is another arm or latch 12 Whichis adapted to engage a suitable recess formed in the corresponding ear 6. V The free end-ofone of the levers 11 is provided with a bifurcated head 13 for the recept-ionof a; securing member 14, .such for ex ample, as a threaded bolt. The corresponding end of the adjacent lever 11 is provided with a head15 which is adapted'to anchor, in any suitable manner, the second end of the member 14. y r

In the operation of a circuit interrupter equipped with my invention, the cover 2 and tank 3 are brought-into juxtaposition by any suitable means. The corresponding ears 6 and 8 and the boss 7 are in 'alinement. Se-

curing means 14, whichhave beenpreviously secured to their respective anchorages 15, are then seated in the bifurcated heads 13. The parts 13 and 15. are then drawn toward each other by the members 14 and suitable cooperating means,'such as nuts 16. As the nuts 16 are turned on themen'ibe'rs 14, the levers 11 are moved toward each other upon their pivots 9 until the extensions 1.2 enter the corresponding recesses in the ears6 and exert an upwardly directed force upon the flanges 4 and tank 3. h Iovementofthe nuts 16 is continued until a tight fit is had between the flange 4 and the cover 2. V

The weight of tank 3 is sustained entirely bythe pressure exerted by arms 12 on the ears 1 6. Any tendency which the levers 11 have to turn about their pivots 9 and drop the tank is resisted by the tension in the members 14, anchorages 15, nuts 16 and heads 13. By providing a pair of clamps as is clearly shown in Fig. 2, for each circuit interrupter, all other clamping mechanism between the cover 2 and the tank 3 is rendered unnecessary.

. In 'dismantling a circuit interrupter equipped with my invention, it is only news.

sary to unscrew thepair of nuts 16, for the reason that the weight of the tank 3, bearing upon the arms 12 of the several levers, creates a turning movement of these levers as slack is given to them by the loosening of connectors 14 until the arms 12 have turned free from the ears 6. The tank then being entirely free from the cover 2.

By my invention, I have reduced the number of parts which have heretofore been necessary for securing a cover to the tank of a circuit interrupter and, at the same time, greater ease and rapidity are obtainedin releasingthe relatively'movable parts of the circuit interrupter.

It is to be understood that the term circuit interrupter, as hereinbefore employed, is considered to include all forms of apparatus in which a plurality of relatively movable members are normally adapted to be clamped together.

While I have shown a preferred form'of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the specific structure illustrated, as various modifications may be made therein, within the spirit and scope of my invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a latching mechanism, a pair of relatively movable members and quickly detachable means for securin said members -together comprising a pair of pivoted levers and means for simultaneously operating said levers, said means comprising a connecting member having a threaded portion and a nut in contact with the threaded portion ofsaid connecting member and one of said levers.

2. In anelectrical device, a pair of relatively movable members, means for securing said members together comprising recessed elements securedto oneof said members, and a pair of pivoted membersmounted on the other member and having projections for engaging the recesses in said elements, and means co-operating with a pair of said levers, said means comprising a member anchored to one of said levers and having adjustable restraining co-operation with the other lever for simultaneously causing engagement between the projections carried thereby and their associated recesses.

3. The combination with a re'ceptablemem ber and a cover member therefor, of a pair of levers pivoted to one of the members and havinga latch for engaging the other member and forcing-the members into closed relation and an operating member for the levers piv oted to the free end of one only of the levers and adjustably and detachably engaging the free end of the other lever for moving the levers into locking position.

4. The combination with a receptable member and a cover member therefor, of a pair of levers pivoted to one of the members and having a latch for engaging the other member and forcing the members into closed relation and an'operating rod for the levers pivoted at one end to one of the levers and adj ustably engaging the free end of the other lever for moving the levers into locking position.

5. The combination with a receptable member and a cover member therefor, of a. pair of levers pivoted to one of the members and having a latch for engaging the other member and forcing the members into closed relation and an operating rod for the lovers pivoted at one end to one of the levers and detachably engaging the free end of the other lever for moving the lovers into'lockin'g position.

6. The combination with areceptable member and a cover member therefor, of a pair of levers pivoted to one of the members and having a latch for engaging the other member, the free end of one of the members being provided with a threaded bolt pivoted thereto and the free end of the other levers being,

bifurcated to receive the threaded end of the bolt and a threaded nut for the bolt for moving the levers into locking position.

7 The combination with a receptable member and a cover member therefor, of a pair of levers pivoted to one of the members and having a latch for engaging the other member, the free end of one of the members being provided with a clampin member 'pivotally attachedthereto and the free end of the other lever being bifurcated to receive the clamp-- CHRISTIAN AALBORG. 

